High School DxD: Scattered Cherry Blossoms

===January 30th===

Land of Shadows, Dun Scaith, Training Ground.

"Hey, Ddraig?" James spoke out to the other resident in his body.

"[What is it, partner?]" Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor, replied nonchalantly.

"I came here to train, right?" James asked in confusion.

"[Yup. To improve your spatial awareness and control over your [Senbonzakura] ability if I'm not mistaken.]" Ddraig, once again, replied nonchalantly.

Nodding his head, agreeing with what Ddraig said, James then asked, "So, why the hell does it feel like the only thing I've done since I got here is get my ass kicked!?"

"[Don't ask stupid questions.]" Ddraig said with a bit of distain in his tone. "[You knew you would spend more time getting your ass kicked than you would improving your skills when you decided to come here.]"

James could only sigh, knowing that what Ddraig said was correct. On the bright side, after Scathach beat him until he could not stand any longer. The process of which ended less than three minutes ago, she declared James competent enough to use his new skill in battle.

For the last three months, James has been training with Scathach so he could fight in close quarters while using [Senbonzakura] at the same time. After more near death experiences than he would like to count or admit to, James finally got Scathach's stamp of approval. To be honest, if James' master had been anyone else, he would have been approved about a month and a half ago. Scathach, however, has much higher standards than others. Standards that she holds herself and her charges to.

"Once you can move again, you can leave." Scathach said, breaking James from his thoughts.

"Thank you, Master." James said in genuine gratitude.

Nodding her head in response, Scathach then turned and made her way back to the castle. While James lay on the training ground, unable to move, for the next half an hour.

Meanwhile, back in the Underworld, nothing of note took place. Cu Chulainn took charge of all those who came to the Alaverus Estate to train. And in the same style as his master, training consisted solely of sparring. After which, Cu Chulainn would point out any flaws and ways to improve he could notice. And during this time, the one who has made the most progress is Tsubaki, which should come as no surprise. On the other hand, Sona has made the least progress. Training with Cu Chulainn does little to help an analytical combatant like her.

Underworld, Gremory Territory, Alaverus Estate.

On the Estate's training ground, Cu Chulainn, Moka, and Tsubaki were spectating a spar between Mizore and Koneko. The spar ended with Mizore as the victor.

"It's sad to say, but Mizore would lose to Koneko more often than not if Koneko was willing to use youjutsu." Moka said after analyzing the spar.

"That may be true." Tsubaki said while adjusting her glasses. "But with that kind of trauma, would you be able to do it?"

"I... Don't know." Moka answered uncertainly.

"That's not something you should worry about." Cu Chulainn interjected. "If she doesn't want to overcome her trauma, then she never will."

"Yeah, but..." Moka said, clenching her fists. "As a friend I want to see her improve."

"Well, James could probably do it..." Cu Chulainn began to say something before being interrupted by a familiar voice from behind.

"I could probably do what?" James asked as he entered the training ground.

Upon hearing James' voice, Mizore's fatigue from the spar vanished instantly. Using her ice manipulation, she propelled herself at high speed in James' direction. She then launched herself over Cu Chulainn, Moka, and Tsubaki with her arms wide open. Instead of catching her, though, James flash stepped away from her landing point. In panic, Mizore created a ramp at her landing spot and slid to a safe stop.

As she stood up, angered by the fact James dodged her hug, James appeared and hugged her from behind before saying.

"Hey Mizore, I'm home." James said in a gentle tone.

Not used to James taking the initiative in being intimate, Mizore's face and neck turned red. And even though her anger had dissipated, she lowered her head so that James would not be able to see her growing smile, then asked.

"Why did you dodge my hug?" Mizore asked in feigned anger.

James chuckled before answering. "I wasn't prepared to catch a missile, you know."

Hearing James reason, Mizore lowered her head even further.

"If you wanna welcome me home with a hug, do so in a normal way, okay?" James said as he released the hug and patted Mizore's head.

Pouting because he stopped hugging her, Mizore followed James over to the others.

"Yo, how's everyone been?" James asked casually.

After a few head pats, hugs, and handshakes, everyone began telling James about their training and daily lives. The next day, James rejoined the training. And for the next month, things went a lot like the months leading up to the High-Class promotion exam. The biggest difference, James would disappear into his studio for a couple of hours a day to draw a new manga. Determined not to draw another battle manga, James decided to reproduce School Rumble this time. After three weeks of drawing, at a pace of 115 chapters a week, James left the issue of publishing to his mother.

Like that, thirty days passed. Though uneventful, the gains were fruitful.

===March 1st; James' Birthday===

Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City Lilith.

On the road leading to the Satan's residential area, James, his parents, and his soon to be peerage walked and talked. It was easy to tell how excited they were. Mizore and Moka were pulling James by the arms to make him walk faster. James, smiling wryly, regulated his speed to keep pace with his parents and Cu Chulainn. Following behind the three of them, Cu Chulainn was laughing at the situation James was in. At the back of the group. Leona and Cassiel's pride in their son could be seen clearly in their smiles.

"Lancer, you really find this funny, don't you?" James asked as he narrowed his eyes.

"Yes. Yes, I do." Cu Chulainn said in glee.

"*Sigh* Sometimes I wonder what's actually inside of your head." James said with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" Cu Chulainn asked with apprehension.

"Cu Cu, come on help us. The faster we get James there, the faster we can join his peerage." Mizore said while still trying to drag James along.

Cu Chulainn's smile froze on his face at Mizore's new term of address.

Without missing a beat, Mizore chimed in to rub salt in the wound.

"Mizore, we've had this discussion before, Setanta doesn't like that nickname. You should use his real name instead."

And with Moka's combo attack, Cu Chulainn's smile disappeared completely.

"I hate you two, I really do." Cu Chulainn said with a deadpan.

Mizore and Moka laughed... hard.

'After half a year of the same joke, it's really not that funny anymore.' James and Cu Chulainn thought simultaneously.

"Anyway, there really is no reason to rush," James said trying to coax the girls into calming down. "it's not like the monument or the [Evil Pieces] are going anywhere. Let's just enjoy the trip, okay?"

Taking a moment to think, both Mizore and Moka decided that enjoying a walk with their arms linked with James was a wonderful idea. So, they stopped pulling and kept pace with everyone else. After another hour of walking leisurely, the group arrived at the monument every new [King] must visit. As each set of [Evil Pieces] only comes with fifteen [Pieces], a [Queen], two [Bishops, two [Knights], two [Rooks], and eight [Pawns], the monument acts as the [King Piece] for each prospective new [King]. So, with [Evil Pieces] in hand, the new [King] must touch the monument, which in turn links the set of [Evil Pieces] to the [King] and registers the devil as the [King] of a new peerage.

Arriving at the monument, James' group were able to see many familiar faces who wanted to witness the birth of James' peerage. The Gremory Family, with Akeno and Koneko, The Sitri Family, with Tsubaki, and three of the Four Great Satans. All but one of the people waiting for them were familiar to James. The beautiful young man with slicked back green hair and light blue eyes was the exception.

"Damn, that's a pretty dude." James muttered to himself, which elicited giggles from Mizore and Moka.

Lucky for James, Cassiel was there to explain who he was looking at.

"Be polite," Cassiel reprimanded, "the green haired man over there is Lord Ajuka Beelzebub."

James nodded at his father's explanation. He then said, "And I bet he tells you to drop the 'Lord' too, doesn't he."

While James was teasing his father over how socially awkward he is, Rias, Akeno, and Sona were gritting their teeth at the sight of Mizore and Moka walking with their arms linked with James. Receiving a smug smile from Mizore in return. Cu Chulainn on the other hand, smiled and waved at Tsubaki. Tsubaki, however, only returned a polite nod.

Once James group had arrived, the first to speak was Ajuka.

"You must be Cassiel's son, James. Ajuka said with a devilish smile. "It's nice to finally meet you."

It's nice to meet you, as well. And I assure you, the pleasure is all mine." James said, while bowing with perfect noble etiquette. Before he reverted to his normal behavior and continued. "So, should I call you uncle Ajuka because you're Pop's friend, or Big Bro because you're Big Bro Sirzechs and Sera-Tan's friend.

"Hehe! James still calls me Sera-Tan." Serafall said in jubilation.

Everyone ignored Serafall's usual antics. Ajuka, however, was caught off guard. He actually had no idea how to answer James' question.

"He really is Leona's son." Venelana said in amazement. "I've known Ajuka for almost 600 years, and this is the first time I've seen him completely at a loss."

"Is that some kind of bloodline ability?" Rhea chimed in as well. "Causing those with long established characters to break them. What do you think, Grayfia?"

Though Grayfia blushed slightly at Rhea's teasing, her facial expression did not change at all.

By now, Ajuka had managed to reboot. Just as James decided to speak again.

"Seriously, the order of seniority is really messed up here." James said with an exasperated sigh. Then he turned toward his father. "This is your fault Pop, based on who your friends are, you should be in the same generation as I am. You are really screwing this up for everyone."

James' words sent everyone into a fit of laughter. Except for Cassiel, of course. James then made his way over to Sirzechs and Grayfia, throwing his arms over their shoulders, then whispering loud enough for everyone to hear. "We'll keep it a secret that the two of you committed the same crime when you had Millicas, okay?"

Sirzechs and Grayfia both stopped laughing immediately and began to blush. And while they were feeling embarrassed, James returned to his side of his group.

"Ahem." Ajuka cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. He got the main topic on track. "James, now that you are fifteen years old and a High-Class devil, you are qualified to build your own peerage."

With Ajuka's declaration, the tension in the air rose quickly. Ajuka then produced a small box, then beckoned James forward.

"And once you make these [Evil Pieces] your own, you will be the Devil World's new [King]."

James stepped forward and accepted the box from Ajuka solemnly. Once the box was in James' hands, Ajuka turned his attention to the large stone erected behind him.

"Now, place your hand upon the monument. Once you are recognized as a [King], your [Evil Pieces] will then synchronize with you."

Following Ajuka's instructions, James approached the monument. While holding the case of [Evil Pieces] in his left hand, he placed his right hand onto the monument.

Once his palm came in contact with the monument, a dark grey light enveloped James starting from his right hand. After enveloping his entire body, the light engulfed the case. Which flung open. As the light came in contact with the pure white [Evil Pieces in the case, both the light enveloping James and the color of the [Pieces] changed to dusk pink. Shortly after, the light receded into the monument, marking the birth of a new [King].

In unison, everyone congratulated James on the accomplishment. And James accepted graciously.

After that, all those present were invited to the Alaverus estate to celebrate James' birthday.